welcome
A Future So Bright
W
hen we think of great design meccas, New York and California tend to be the first states to come to mind. But as we wrap up our annual “State of Design” issue, I have to believe that, when it comes to innovation, creativity and forwardthinking style, Colorado is right up there with the best. And now I shall make my case: For the first time this year, we sent out a call for nominations of designers under the age of 40 who were poised to make a mark on Colorado. The response was overwhelming, and we enjoyed a first-hand look at the incredible work being done right now in the world of interior design, architecture and landscape design. Trust me, the future of the Colorado design industry is blindingly bright. Turn to page 70 to see our five brilliant award winners and you’ll see exactly what I mean. This is also the issue in which we present our annual Home of the Year (page 58), and its selection is also evidence of our state’s youthful vibe. Inhabited by a young family, this child-filled yet elegant home shows that no one has to replace style with babies. The two can—and should—coexist beautifully. We also talked with several designer friends around the state to get their take on the hottest trends in home design, and the results are in (starting on page 23): the color blue, midcentury modernism, and a resurgence of warm metals like gold and brass are just a few directions that home decor has taken. Which just goes to show that the classics never go out of style. The. Coolest. Clock. Ever: I receive emails every day introducing fabulous new products, but the Qlocktwo has to be the most innovative clock ever designed. These Swissdesigned, German-manufactured timepieces come in several styles (even a wristwatch), seven colors and twelve languages. Available at Denver’s Studio 2B. studio2bdenver.com Colorful Cups: With so much entertaining and socializing happening outdoors, it’s vitally important to have unbreakable cocktail containers. Stop buying (and trashing) those icky red cups and keep a dozen or so of these fun, plastic tumblers from online seller Zak Designs on hand. After all, stripes are always in fashion. zak.com Stackable Style: And speaking of entertaining, who doesn’t need more temporary seating? Forget cheap, ugly folding chairs; the Hot Mesh Chair by Blu Dot is so great, I might just leave it out permanently. Available at Mod Livin’ in Denver. modlivin.com
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C O L O R AD O HO M E SM AG.C OM
Cheers,
Mary Barthelme Abel Editor in Chief
emily minton redfield
My Current Obsessions